By J.D. Lagrange, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
Some call them clichés, because they are repeated every year, but it doesn’t make them any less pertinent. When they say that the playoffs are another season, where you throw the regular season’s stats out the window, you forget your good (or bad) season and start fresh, that a player can redeem himself for his bad season adding (or taking away) to his value as a hockey player, that’s all true. On this Easter weekend, let’s look at some players hoping to resurrect their season and in some cases, their career.
PENTICTON, BC. – The Montreal Canadiens have a few players in their line-up who would qualify has having a so-so 2013-2014 season, with ups and down and in their case, perhaps more downs than anything, and all of them were looking forward to the playoffs to prove their worth to the team and, in some cases, save their job in the NHL. While we’re only two games into the second season, let’s have a look at the team’s often scapegoats.
For some players like Daniel Briere, everyone expected that they would raise their play in the playoffs as he’s one who has always had success in the spring tournament. So far, he has not disappointed. Centering the fourth line with rookie Michael Bournival and Dale Weise on his wings, he has been a constant threat to the Lightning, even assisting on Weise’s overtime winner in game one. The news of his two-year deal with the Canadiens was received by some with great criticism and Briere has found himself in head coach Michel Therrien’s dog house, averaging under 13 minutes per game of ice time during the regular season. He did however made the most of his limited ice time by scoring 13 goals, which ties him for sixth on the team with Alex Galchenyuk. His production so far in this series gives the Canadiens added scoring depth, something teams cannot have too much of in a short series.
After a great start to the season, Lars Eller’s offensive production went down the drain for most of the season. While still averaging about 16 minutes of ice time per game, coach Therrien was forced to put him into a more defensive role as the big center had lost his ways on offense. Many, including yours truly, thought that this would be Eller’s breakthrough season in the NHL but it has not panned out. Eller, whose playoffs were cut short last season by a devastating injury, is planning of redeeming himself and he has shown a lot of promises in the first two games of this series. His line, completed by Rene Bourque and Brian Gionta, has been one of the most threatening offensively against the Lightning. Eller is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer and his playoffs’ performances could go a long way into deciding the type of contract he will be offered, perhaps even if the Canadiens will keep him beyond this season.
Coming back from a serious knee injury, Alexei Emelin had a few good games but then went through a very rough stretch. Forced to play on the right side, it’s only in the last month or so of the regular season that we started seeing the physical defenseman that we had learned to love last season. Paired with countryman Andrei Markov, they form the Canadiens’ second best pairing after Josh Gorges and P.K. Subban. Emelin has been very effective so far in this series, although he is clearly still struggling with his pivots on the right side. He is the shooter on the second powerplay unit and his physical play is what the Canadiens need most during those playoffs, an aspect even more evident if the Habs have to face the Bruins in the second round.
No one needs to have a good playoff run more than winger Rene Bourque who, in spite of attempts by GM Marc Bergevin to trade him, couldn’t find a team interested in taking him on. Bourque has been very good in the playoffs this year. His goal in game two had many taking a second look as it was a Pacioretty-like goal, spectacular, powerful and with some soft finish. Everyone around the NHL knows that Bourque has all the tools to become a great power-forward in this league, having a combination of speed, good size and strength, and with a good shot. Unfortunately, it seems like either he’s the only one who doesn’t believe in his skills’ set, he’s not willing to put in the effort every night or he’s too lazy to do so. Having great playoffs might entice some team to take a flyer on him, or Bergevin will have to be creative in trading him to a team who, unlike the Habs, have not used their two compliance buyouts. So far with the Canadiens though, Bourque has four goals in seven playoffs games, counting last season.
Going into those playoffs, we knew that the team could count on the contribution of the Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek line. They have been closely checked by the Lightning, but managed to still be a threat. With a little bit of luck on their side, they would have a few more goals in this series. We also knew that the line of Brandon Prust, Tomas Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher would be given the tough duty of checking Steven Stamkos, although we know that they are very much able to generate some offense.
But with the contribution of Eller, Bourque and Briere, the Canadiens are now four lines deep and each line can hurt you at any given time and that’s what the addition of Vanek has done. It allowed Gallagher to slide into second line duty and Gionta into the third line on the right side. With the way Mike Weaver has been playing, and with the return of Josh Gorges to the left of Subban, combined with the resurgence of Emelin, and when you have Carey Price in net, the Canadiens very much form a very well balanced team, a team which, in my opinion, can make some noise in those playoffs.
Go Habs Go!
En français: Les séries sont un temps de rédemption pour certains